Knitting machine



4 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed June 1. 1949 i Inventor @am mlbhd A ril 8, 1952 A. SHORTLAND 2,591,833

- KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor W W April 3, 1952 A. SHCRTLAND, 2,591,883

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 KNITTING, 1 MACHINE 4 Shee tsSheet 4 Filed June 1. 1949 Inventor @111 film LQM i atenteo'i Apr. 8, 1952 KNITTING MACHINE Arthur Sliortland, Leicester, England, assigrior' to Mellor Bromley and Company Limited;

Leicester, England Application June 1, 1949, Serial No. 96,476

In Great Britain June 1948 13 Claims.

This invention concerns knitting machines of the type having a member movableto and fro (e. g. along a line of needles or other knitting instruments). It is primarily applicable to Cottons patent or other straight bar knitting machines for the purpose of moving the slur-cock or the like and/or the thread carriers. It is also applicable to flat knitting machines for the purpose of moving the carriage or lock by which the needles are actuated, and/or the yarn guides. The invention provides in a knitting machine of the type specified, mechanism for driving the aforesaid member to and fro comprising a continuously rotatable cam member having on it two helical tracks of opposite hand with end portions which connect the two tracks smoothly at'both ends, a follower for engaging the tracks and arranged to pass from one to the other by way of the end portions as the cam member is rotated, whereby the follower is traversed to and fro, which follower is connected or arranged'to be connected to the member to be driven to and fro, and controllable means for causing the follower to remain at an end of the rotating tracks as required. Preferably said means is controllable to cause the follower to remain at any selected one of the two ends. It will be appreciated that this mechanism converts continuous rotation of the cam member to reciprocation of the driven member and it permits the latter to be caused to stand still for any required length of time at an end of its path of movement without it being necessary to bring the cam member to a standstill. Thus for example in the application of the invention to draw mechanism for driving the slur-cock for Cottons patent or other straight bar knitting machine, the slur-cock may be caused to stand still at one end of the draw while the other operations are being effected.

The end portions desirably comprise dwell parts having little or no lead (i. e. parts which extend mainly in the circumferential direction of the cam member). While the follower is engaged with any such dwell part it remains substantially stationary and the circumferential length of such dwell part may be so arranged in relation to the knitting cycle of the machine as to permit other knitting operations to take place during this phase. For example when the mechanism is applied to driving a slur-cock, the latter may be caused to dwell at each end of its traverse for a sufiicient period to permit the dividing, loopforming, and knocking-over operations to take place. In order to provide for the follower being stationary for a period greater-than that provided for by the dwell part, the cam member may have a circumferential track at least at one end and there may he means for diverting the follower into and/ or out of engagement with the circumferential track. This diverting means may comprise a displaceable switch cam which is engaged by the follower and diverts its course.

In an alternative arrangement the control means for causing the follower to stand still may comprise means for effecting disengagement between the follower and an end portion of the tracks.

The invention may be applied to driving two members in such manner that one has a constant lead or lag over another. For example it may be applied to driving a carrier and the slur-cock of a Cottons patent or other straight bar knitting machine, the carrier having a constant lead over the slur-cock. It may further be applied to driving a plating carrier in addition to the main carrier, the main carrier having a constant lead over the plating carrier. In this and analagous arrangements there may be a plurality of followers in series, engaged one after the other, with the tracks, and means for supporting and guiding them for reciprocating movement along paths which are circumferentially-spaced and are clear of one another.

The foregoing and other features of the invention are incorporated inthe mechanism which will now be described as an example with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification, which are to some extent diagrammatic and in which:

Figure l is a side elevation or plan of the mechanism, and

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof, and to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 3 is a sectional view through a Cottons patent or other straight bar knitting machine, incorporating the mechanism provided by this invention, showing sufiicient of the machine to permit it to be identified and to permit a hosiery machine builder to carry the invention into practice;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation, partly in section, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is a rear elevation, partly in'section and on a larger scale, of the cam drum shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring primarily to Figs. 1 and 2, the

mechanism therein shown comprises a cylindrical cam member or drum l which is rotatably supported in bearings and is adapted to be-driven continuously by gearing 4 from any suitable source of power and in timed relation with other parts of the machine. The drum I is the cam member aforesaid and it is provided with two helical tracks 5, 6 (here shown as raised ribs) of opposite hand. At each end these tracks are smoothly connected by end portions I, i, (or dwell parts) that extend mainly circumferentially. The tracks may have any desired number of convolutions but practical considerations will in general render it necessary for them to intersect at one or more locations in the axial length of the drum I. At each intersection matters are so arranged that a follower such as 9, I or II that is travelling along either track may cross over without fouling the other track. For example in the case of tracks formed by raised ribs and a follower having side cheeks engaging the two flanks of the rib, at each intersection each rib may be cut across with two spaced grooves I2 permitting the passage through them of the side checks of the follower. Thus at each intersectiOn there are four grooves, two across each rib, which four grooves define a diamond-shaped island I3.

Thus as the drum I is rotated continuously the follower is reciprocated along a path parallel to the axis of the drum. Each helical track may have an intermediate portion of constant pitch that merges into the circumferential end portions or dwell parts by way of portions of progressively varying pitch. The latter provide for the acceleration and deceleration of the follower at the ends of its travel. The varying pitch of the track necessitates the follower being capable of movements of partial rotation about an axis which is substantially normal to that of the drum and to the path ,of reciprocation. Thus in Fig. 2 the followers S, III, II are shown as being mounted in members I9, 23 and 2I respectively by means of stub spindles 22, 23 and 24.

In order that the follower may be caused to stand still at least at one end of its travel for a period greater than that provided for by the dwell part at that ,end of the drum, while the drum rotates continuously, there is provided at least at one end of the drum (and preferably at each end of it) a circumferential track M (or I I) consisting of the dwell part I or 'I" and of a further circumferential idle part 55 or I. The exit end of one helical track blends smoothly into one end of dwell part I but means are provided for ensuring that the follower, at will, either passes from the other end of the dwell part into the commencement (or entry end) of the other helical track or continues in engagement with the circumferential track I l or I4 so that although the drum continues to rotate motion is not imparted to the follower. The means for diverting the follower into and out of engagement with the idle track I5 or I5 comprises a displaceable switch cam IE or I6.

In Fig. 1, an identical arrangement is shown ateach end of the drum, and it is only necessary to describe in detail that at the right hand end. At the commencement of the'dwell part I there is a groove I'I separating this dwell part from the exit end of the idle part I5, this groove I I blending smoothly into the outer flank of the dwell part and one flank of the adjacent helical track 6. The other fiank of the helical track I5 blends smoothly into the inner flank of the dwell part I but a wholly circumferential groove I8 is formed between the exit end of the helical track 6 and the inner flank of the'dwell part 7 Thus a follower of the construction before described is adapted either to pass from the exit end of the helical track 6 to the commencement of the dwell part I or to pass from the exit end of the idle part I5 to the beginning of the dwell part I. Similar grooves Ila, lfia are provided at the exit end of the dwell part and at the entry end of the other helical track 5 but a switch cam I5 is provided at the outer face of the idle part which cam I6 when operative engages the outer check of the follower and diverts the latter in wards through groove I8a so that the follower passes from the end of the dwell part I into the commencement of said other helical track 5. When this switch cam It is inoperative the follower continues from the end of the dwell part 7 to the beginning of the idle part I5. The switch cam It may be displaceable axially of the drum or radially, for example it may be caused to sink below the drum surface to its inoperative posi tion. Elements similar to those just described are also provided at the left hand end of the drum I, and these similar parts are identified by primed reference numbers. Thus for example number 7' indicates a dwell part, at the left hand end, that is the equivalent of dwell part i.

Mechanism for projecting and retracting the switch cams I6, It is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5. Inside drum I, there is a slide bar 23 mounted in guide means 36 and 38 and having ramp portions 3|, 3| respectively engaged by followers 32, 32' on cams It, It, so that by endwise movement of bar 29 the two cams are projected or retracted in unison. Bar 29 may be moved by any suitable mechanism. One suitable mechanism comprises a sleeve 33 slidably axially of the drum but restrained from rotation as for example by engagement of a pin or key 34 in a slot .35 formed along the interior of stationary casing 36, the sleeve being provided with at least one helical track or cam 31 engaged by a follower 38 protruding from the interior of a cuff 3i) rotatably mounted in the interior of casing 36. Track 37 and follower 35 constitute the mechanical equivalent of a quick pitch screw thread, so that when cuff 39 is rotated (by connections, M in a manner subsequently described) the sleeve 33 is moved axially, which movement is communicated to bar 29 because a truck 42 on the end of the bar is engaged in a circumferential groove 43 in the interiorof sleeve 33.

It will be appreciated that the application of the invention to driving a carrier or slurcock in a Cottons patent or other straight bar knitting machine permits the carrier or slurcpck to remain stationary, notwithstanding the continued rotation of the drum 1, while the main cam shaft is shogged for fashioning or like operations.

Desirably, there is one follower connected to the slur cock and another follower connected to a driver for a carrier. These two followers are so mounted that although they engage the cam track 5, 6 one behind another they reciprocate along paths that extend parallel with the drum axis and with one another but are spaced from one another. Conveniently there are three followers, one (I I) driving a slurcock member 2|, another one (9) driving a driver I9 for the main carriers, and another-(M3) driving a driver 20 for the plating carriers. They are guided for reciprocation on parallel bars 25, 2t, and ZI, so that in eiTect the paths of the followers are spaced circumferentially of the drum I. The arrangement permits follower 9 to have a constant lead over follower l0, and follower It to have a constant lead over follower l l.

The arrangement of the foregoing mechanism in a Cottons patent knitting machine is shown in Fig. 3, in which the following parts are to be noted: frame 68, main carrier rods 44, plating carrier rods 45, sinker bar 46, needle bar 41, narrowing machine 48, main cam shaft 49, camshaft shogging mechanism 50, shaft 5| carrying drum l and connected to main cam shaft 49 to rotate at twice the speed, and main pattern chain 52.

Chain 52 carries rows of studs 53 arranged to operate feelers such as 54, 55 in known manner. When feeler 54 is raised by a chain stud, it operates through connection 56 to disengage detent 51 from shogging bolt 58 which thereupon is freed to slide (in its mounting 59) under the influence of spring 80 towards main cam shaft 49. Bolt 58 operates cuff 39 through connections 4|, so it will be seen that the foregoing arrangement provides for the draw to be suspended at any phase predetermined by the set-out of the studs on chain 52. The bolt 58 is re-set by re-setting cam 6! on cam shaft 49, to an extent suiiicient for detent 51 to engage if the stud layout of manner for the purpose of causing the cam shaft 49 to shog. When feeler 55 is raised by a chain stud, in timed relation to that raising of feeler 54 which frees bolt 58 it operated through connection 66 to disengage detent 61 from roller 62 to the other by way of the end portions as the cam member is rotated whereby said follower is traversed to and fro and for continuous enagement with the circumferential track so as to stand still while the cam member continues to rotate, guide means for supporting and guiding the follower for reciprocating movement, means for diverting the follower between the helical tracks and the' circumferential track and for therebycausing the follower to reciprocate on its supporting and guiding means or to stand still at one end of its travel according to whetherit is engaged with the helical tracks or the circumferential track, and means for connecting the follower to the movable member aforesaid.

6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein the diverting means comprises a displaceable switch cam for engagement by the follower to divert its a course, which switch cam is movable into and which thereupon moves towards the main cam shaft 49 under the influence of spring 63. The main cam shaft is thereby shogged. When the bolt 58 is forced out by cam Bl it carries roller 52 with it. If the stud lay-out of chain 52 is such that the roller 62 is retained in its outer position (by detent 61 or detent 51) the cam shaft shogs back to its original position.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine of the type having a member movable to and fro, mechanism for driving the aforesaid member to and fro comprising a continuously rotatable cam member having on it two helical tracks of opposite hand with end portions which connect the two tracks smoothly at both ends, a follower for engaging the tracks and arranged to pass from one to the other by way of the end portions as the cam member is rotated, whereby the follower is traversed to and fro, means for connecting the follower to the member to be driven to and fro, and controllable means for causing the follower to remain at an end of the rotating tracks as required.

2. A machine according to claim 1, having said controllable means controllable to cause the follower to remain at any selected one of the two ends.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the end portions comprise dwell parts having little or no lead.

4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the cam member has a circumferential track at least at one end, in combination with means for diverting the follower into and. out of engagement with the circumferential track.

5. In a knitting machine having a member movable to and fro along a line of instruments, mechanism for driving said member comprising out of diverting position.

7. A machine according to claim 1, having a plurality of followers in series engaged, one after the other, with the tracks, and means for sup-- porting and guiding them for reciprocating move-- ment along paths which are circumferentially-- spaced and are clear of one another.

8. In a straight bar knitting machine, having a line of needles, a line of sinkers, and a slurcock movable to and fro along the line of sinkers; draw mechanism for driving the slur-cock comprising a continuously rotatable cam member having on it two helical tracks of opposite hand with end portions which connect the two tracks smoothly at both ends, a followerfor engaging the tracks and for passage from one to the-other by way of the end portions as the cam is rotated, whereby the follower is traversed to and fro, guide means along which the follower travels, connecting means for connecting the follower to the slur-cock to drive the latter, and controllable means for suspending the traverse of the slur-cock by causing the follower to remain at an end of the rotating tracks as required.

9. A machine according to claim 8 being of the type in which the customary operations of dividing, loop-forming, and knocking-over are performed, wherein the end portions comprise dwell parts extending circumferentially for causing the slur-cock to dwell at each end of its traverse for a sufficient time to permit said customary operations to take place.

10. A machine according to claim 8 having aanother follower, following the first, to the slurcock, whereby the carrier is given a lead over the slur-cock.

11. A machine according to claim 10, having at least one main yarn carrier and at least one plating carrier, and having one follower arranged for connection to the main carrier and a suc- 7 ceeding follower arranged for connection to the plating carrier, whereby the main carrier is given a lead over the plating carrier.

12. In a straight bar knitting machine having a line of needles, a line of sinkers, a slur-cock movable along the line of sinkers, and a main yarn carrier and at least one plating carrier movable along the line of needles with the main carrier having a lead over the plating carrier and the latter having a lead over the slur-cock; draw mechanism for driving the carriers and slurcock to and fro comprising a continuously rotatable cam member having on it two helical tracks of opposite hand with end portions which connect the two tracks smoothly at both ends, at least three followers in series for engaging the tracks and for passing, in a succession, from one to the other by way of the end portions as the cam is rotated, whereby the followers are traversed to and fro, means for supporting and guiding the followers for reciprocating movement along paths that are circumferentially-spaced and are clear of one another, means for connecting the main carrier to the leadin follower, the plating carrier to a succeeding follower, and the slur-cook to a further succeeding carrier whereby the main carrier is given a lead over the plating carrier and the latter is given a lead over the slur-cock, and controllable means for suspending the traverse of the carriers and slur-cock by causing the followers to remain at an end of the rotating tracks as required.

' aEFERENoEs CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,824,754 Bock Sept. 22, 1931 2,082,207 Lawson et al. June 1, 1937 2,353,973 Shortland July 18, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,867 Germany Dec. 15, 1880 

